Spring activated sliding door



Feb. 23, 1960- H. s. DUNN SPRING ACTIVATED SLIDING DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1959 INVENTOR. Haaou: 5. DUNN, M. C9

ATTORNEY Feb. 23, 1960 H. s. DUNN SPRING ACTIVATED suomc DOOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 15, 1959 1 TQM Ex? INVENTOR. HAROLD 5. DUNNq BY llnited States This invention relates to a closure device and has particular reference to -a. closure door panel that is slidable in a horizontal plane toward and from a closure position.

The closure panel of this invention is adapted to be supported upon a horizontal trackway that spans the opening that permits the shifting of the closure panel to a maximum open and closed position and has particular reference to a closure panel in the form of a screened door, although not restricted to such use, and with the door functioning to be shiftable to and from an overlying position with respect to an access door opening. The structure of this invention is primarily designed for supporting a screened door forming a closure for an access opening in screened-in area, such as patios and swimming pools.

The invention contemplates a tubular trackway upon which the closure panel is supported and with spring means connected with the door and that yieldably opposes the sliding of the door to an open position and whereby to bias the door to a closed position when released andassociated cylinder and piston means within the trackway whereby to cushion and retard a too rapid closingof the door under the influence of the spring and whereby the cylinder and the piston will function as a check means for the door.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts through- .out the several figures.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a sliding door structure and associated supporting frame work,

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse vertical section,

taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a longitudinal vertical section, parts being .shown in elevation and,

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken sub .stantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates the frame members, including frame posts 5, ,that are spaced apart to provide predetermined panel .openings for the support of conventional insect screening .6. Two adjacent posts 5 and a header 7, constitute a door or access opening 8. Slidable in a horizontal plane and parallel with respect to the screened-in area .6, is a conventional closure door, here illustrated as a screen door 9. The screen door 9 is adapted to fully extend across and close the opening 8, when in the closed position.

Adapted to. span the space between two remote posts .5, as clearly indicated in Figures 1 and 3, is a cylindrical to ;be;prese ntly described. The door 9 is adapted to be shiftably js'upported upon the track forming tube 10, by

ice

grooved rollers 13, preferably formed of nylon. The rollers 13 have a bearing in the upper ends of bracket arms 14, that are bolted or otherwise connected to the upper end of the door 9. It will be apparent that the door may be shifted along the track 10 by sliding movement to cover and uncover the access opening 8.

Axially arranged with respect to the track 10 and secured at one end to a post 5, as by nuts 15, is a cylinder 16. The cylinder 16 is of relatively smaller diameter than the track forming tube 10. The cylinder 16 is closed at one end by a threaded apertured plug 17. The plug 17 is provided with an apertured inwardly opening valve 17. Shiftably disposed within the cylinder 16, is a tubular piston 18. The piston 18 at one end is closed by a plug 19, that functions to compress a conventional O-ring 20, that bears against the inner wall of the cylinder 16. The opposite end of the piston 18 projects slightly beyond the free end of the cylinder 16 and has connection with a bracket 21, that extends downwardly through the slot 12 for fixed connection with the top of the door 9, as at 22. The bracket 21 may be fixed in any desirable manner to the projecting end of the piston 18. The bracket 21 has an upper extension 23 that -is apertured to receive one end 24 of a retractile coil spring 25. The spring 25 surrounds the cylinder 16 and in the position of rest, is substantially co-extensive in length with the cylinder. The opposite end of the spring 25 is connected inany suitable manner, as at 26, with an adjacent post 5. The bracket 21 and the piston 18 support the cylinder 16 against downward flexing. A downwardly opening U-shape cover 27 is co-extensive with the track 10 and substantially overlies the track. An intermediate supporting bracket 28 engages about the track 10, at a point adjacent to the bracket 21, the positioning of such bracket being adequate to permit full closing of the door. The bracket 28 is connected to the top of the cover 27, as at 29. The bracket 28 also functions as a stop for the roller device 13, arranged adjacent the leading edge of the door, such stop being calculated to permit the sliding of the door to a full or substantially full open position, without disengaging the piston 18 from the cylinder 16.

In the use of the device, the usual enclosure is constructed, leaving the door or access opening 8 between two adjacent posts 5. The trackway 10 and associated cylinder and piston 16 and 18 are then mounted with respect to the opening to be spanned. The cylinder 16 is mounted within one post 5 and locked in such position axially with respect to the trackway by the lock nuts 15. The door 9 is then supported upon the trackway through the medium of the arcuate rollers 13 and the bracket arms 14. The bracket 21 is inserted into the trackway to engage the projecting end of the piston 18 and secured in position. The connections '24 and 26 for the spring 25, are then made with respect to the bracket 21 and one post 5 in any convenient manner. When the door is to be shifted, it is moved in a horizontal path, causing the rollers to traverse the tubular trackway 10. Such movement shifts the piston 18 outwardly from the cylinder 16, under the influence of the bracket 21 against the tension of the spring 25. Movement is permitted until the roller 13 at the leading end of the door engages the bracket 28, in which position the door is at its maximum open position, a small section of the piston 18 will remain within thecylinder 16, avoiding any tendency for the cylinder and piston to fiex downwardly. Upon release of the door, the spring 25 biases the door to the closure position and any sudden closing movement under the influence of the spring 25 is opposed by an air check formed by the plug 19 of the piston, forcing air outwardly through the aperture of the plug 17, forming in effect an air check against a too rapid closing of the door. With the door in a fully closed position, the spring will be under a slight tension at all times to bias the door against opening movement. Any suitable bumper device will be employed upon the leading edge of the door as found desirable, the door will of course be provided with any suitable latch mechanism well recognized in the industry.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that a very novel form of sliding door structure has been provided. The mechanism embodies a very desirable cylinder trackway for supporting the door throughout its traverse movement. The novel form of tension means that biases the door to a closed position, is all disposed within the cylinder trackway where it is protected against the elements and protected against unauthorized handling. The check device embodies a novel construction of elements not heretofore used in combination with any sliding door structure. The check device while actuated under the sliding influence of the door, is operative freely without any of the weight of the door being disposed thereon. All of the parts, with the exception of the spring 25 and the nylon rollers 13, are formed of aluminum, having a high degree of resistance to corrosion. While the device has been primarily designed for use as an actuating means for sliding screen doors, it will be clearly apparent that the device is not restricted to such use and may be well adapted for biasing interiorv doors in buildings, such for instance as sliding closet doors or other access openings. The device is cheap to manufacture, is strong, durable and most effective as a means to bias a screen door or other doors to a full closure position such, being essential in such areas as screened-in patios, swimming pools or the like, where it is necessary that the door constantly be closed, except for such times as access to the area is desired. The spring device 25 is treated in a manner to also prevent corrosion or rusting.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a sliding door structure, the combination with a framework defined by spaced apart posts whereby to form panels for the reception of insect screening and with two adjacent posts being spaced apart to define an access opening, a tubular trackway that extends between two remote posts to span the access openings and to span one adjacent screen panel, a door adapted to be shifted in parallel relation to the access opening and the adjacent screen panel, roller devices at the top of the door for traversing the trackway and whereby the door may be shifted in parallel relation to the opening and the screen panel, bracket devices for supporting the door with respect to the rollers, an air cushion device of telescopic form that is disposed within the trackway and embodying a cylinder and a plunger, means for connecting the trailing end of the door with the plunger, a retractile spring device that is connected with the plunger at one end and with a frame post at the opposite end, the door shifting the plunger device outwardly from the cylinder against the tension of the spring and whereby the door is biased to a closed position, the said plunger constituting an air check with the said cylinder.

2. A sliding closure device of the character described in combination with a fixed framework embodying spaced apart posts and with adjacent posts constituting panels for the reception of insect screening, two adjacent posts also constituting an access doorway, a cylindrical trackway that extends between two remote posts to span the opening of the doorway and the opening of an adjacent screen panel, bracket arms fixed upon the leading and trailing edge of a door device and that is disposed outwardly of the sides of the door, grooved rollers joumaled in the upper portions of the bracket arms and that have traverse engagement along the top offthe cylindrical trackway, a cylinder disposed within the trackway co-axial thereto and with the cylinder being fixed at one end to an adjacent post, a plunger slidable into and out of the cylinder and with the plunger projecting beyond the free end of the cylinder, a bracket carried by the top edge of the door and that is fixed with respect to the extended end of the plunger, a retractile coil spring that surrounds the cylinder and having one end connected to the last named bracket, the opposite end of the spring being fixed with respect to an adjacent post, the door being shiftable in a horizontal plane and wholly supported from the cylindrical trackway, the said door being movable in parallel relation to the access opening and an adjacent screened panel and valve means disposed in the fixed end of the cylinder whereby the plunger constitutes an air check during the closing of the door under the influence of the spring.

3. A closure device of the character described in combination with a rigid framework embodying upright posts that are spaced apart to constitute openings for the reception of insect screening, one pair of posts being uncovered to form an access opening, a cylindrical trackway that is coextensive with the access opening and with one adjacent screened panel, bracket devices for supporting the trackway upon two remote posts, the trackway upon its bottom being longitudinally slotted for its full length, the door being supported entirely from its top, bracket arms fixed to the opposite sides of the door and that extend above the trackway, grooved rollers journaled in the upper end of the arms and with the rollers being grooved upon the arc of the trackway and whereby the door is hung for traverse movement along the trackway in parallel relation to the access opening and with the adjacent screen panel, an air check device supported within the cylindrical trackway co-axial thereto, the air check device embodying a cylinder that is open at its opposite ends, one end of the cylinder being fixed with respect to an adjacent post, an air check valve disposed in the fixed end of the cylinder, a plunger shiftable into and out of the cylinder, a bracket device fixed to the top of the door at its trailing edge and that is connected to an extended end of the plunger and whereby movement of the door functions to shift the plunger through the cylinder, a retractile coil spring that is fixed at one end to an adjacent post and at its opposite end is fixed to the last namedbracket, the last named bracket extending upwardly fiom the door through'the said slot of the cylindrical trackway, an intermediate sup port for the trackway, the said support constituting a stop for the maximum opening position of the door and a cover device connected with the framework and that wholly overlies the trackway and the upper marginal edge of the door.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the plunger device is cylindrical and having a relatively close sliding fit into the cylinder, the inner end of the plunger being provided with a packing ring that engages the inner wall of the cylinder, the opposite end of the plunger being open, the said valve device for the cylinder being movable under the influence of the outward sliding movement of the plunger for the passage of air in a relatively large volume and with the valve device being closed upon the return movement of the door and the plunger to provide a reduced air escape, the said spring at all times being under tension to bias the door to a fully closed position against accidental shifting movement.

5. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the rollers are formed of nylon.

Jones Mar. 8, 1904 1,122,091 Fancher Dec. 22, 1914 2,754,535 Plemeng July 17, 1956 

